The following is a list of chapters of the Faction Zero volume of the iStory, with summaries and appearances noted. The summaries below are for each chapter, and explain what must happen so the reader can complete the story successfully.

Contents

Chapter 601

Claire Bennet deals with a strange day at Sam's Comics. Ex-government agent Rachel Mills has a new mission. A former fugitive complicates everyone's lives with a special request. Book Six begins: "Faction Zero."

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In Costa Verde, Claire talks to Vic about allowing him to have a day off tomorrow. She reminds him that he is her boss and that he can do what he wants. He takes the day off and Claire remembers that it will be New Comic Day. She tells him no but he smiles and says that he has already booked it on the computer. A homeless man enters and catches their attention. Vic asks if he is going to buy anything and tells him that he cannot stay there. As Mensen leaves, Claire notices something strange about him. Vic notes his voice of authority and tries to make small talk with Claire but is interrupted when yet another customer enters. Eric Lee Harrison looks around and spots Claire, who recognizes him as a former fugitive who came to her for help.

Eric tells Claire that he has a problem and Claire warns him not to try anything funny, like the last time they met. Eric insists that he is being serious and Claire asks if someone is after him. He explains that he told his friend he got engaged as an alibi for his time on the run. He goes on to explain that his friend posted it on Facebook and his mother found out and now she is throwing him a party in Texas. He pulls out an engagement ring and asks Claire to be his fake wife. His phone rings and he sees that it is his mother, so he tries to get Claire to talk to her. Another visitor, Rachel Mills, enters the shop, interrupting their conversation. Eric recognizes her as a Building 26 agent and he shrinks to fit under a comic rack. Rachel informs Claire that he was one of her first assignments. She tries to talk with Claire about something important but is interrupted by yet another customer, this time Sandra Bennet. Claire quickly gets Rachel to go and hide out with Vic.

Vic speaks with Rachel similarly to when he first met Claire. He asks her what her super power is, catching her off guard. He asks if she is telekinetic or telepathic. Rachel gives an in-depth description about each of the personalities that the powers represent and then calls herself a telepathic. Meanwhile, Sandra informs Claire that she and Lyle will be going to the DMV so they may not be home until late. Sandra leaves and Rachel goes back to Claire and talks to her about Mensen, a former Primatech agent who has been hunting evolved humans. She explains that Mensen is the homeless guy outside and asks Claire to help her catch him.

Claire goes outside and speaks with Mensen. She tells him that she has what he is after and he asks if she knows the location of Sabine Hazel. Claire becomes confused and Mensen begins to run, but he is stopped by Rachel, who teleports to catch him. Before Mensen can give them any information, he is shot dead by an unknown assailant. Later, Claire, Rachel and Eric discuss matters at their home. Rachel worries that whoever shot Mensen will go after Claire, but Claire isn't too fussed. She reminds Rachel about their deal and tells her that she is to go to Texas and pretend to be Eric's fiancée. Sighing, Rachel agrees.

Chapter 602

Rachel tracks down one of Mensen's allies, but runs into unexpected trouble from a surprising source. A visitor arrives at Sam's Comics for Claire, putting her friends in danger. Two familiar faces arrive in Costa Verde with a mission of their own.

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Rachel and Claire go to the Costa Verde police department and Rachel asks to speak with Lieutenant Lenks. The two of them head into the Lieutenant's office and Rachel talks with him about Mensen. The officer comments on how weird it was, stating that he looked like a homeless man but was built like a SEAL. Rachel asks for his personal belongings.

Claire is then told to go to work, as Rachel does not want her to get too involved. Claire reluctantly agrees. At work, Vic asks about Rachel and Claire tells him that she is an assassin. Vic finds that hot rather than disturbing. Claire rolls her eyes and goes to check on the two customers who are sorting through comics out back. Hiro and Ando explain that they are looking for a new path and that Sam's Comics has helped them before. A woman, Alethea Thorn, enters the store and goes to Vic. She tells him that Claire's life is in danger and he becomes very worried.

Alethea then tells Vic that he deserves the day off, a thought that he agrees with. Vic leaves and Alethea turns to Claire. She tells Claire that she needs her keys, so Claire quickly searches through her bag, trying desperately to find them. Hiro and Ando tell her to stop and emerge from the stacks with their ears covered. Claire snaps out of her mind controlled state and asks Alethea what she is doing. Alethea states that she needs help because Building 26 is after her.

Alethea explains that an agent is after her and that he has a grudge against her. While Claire is hesitant to get involved, Hiro and Ando jump at the idea to help someone. They agree to wait outside and stand guard. Alethea tells Claire that she would have normally never gone to her for help, as she has her own "group" that she turns to when she is in trouble. Claire claims that she feels better being independent but Alethea calls her foolish. They receive a message from Ando, telling them that they have spotted the agent. Claire tells them to wait but is interrupted when there is a loud smash. Alethea screams as Agent Penn enters the store from the back door.

Alethea tries to make Penn believe that she is nobody but he is wearing earphones, making her ability useless. He is about to shoot them when Rachel teleports in with Hiro and Ando. Penn is surprised that Rachel has a power and Rachel asks him why he is after Alethea. Alethea begs him to stop and apologizes for what she did. Penn is surprised to hear that and lowers his gun. Penn and Alethea leave and Rachel and Claire thank Hiro and Ando for their help. Vic returns, completely unaware of what occurred in the shop.

Chapter 603

Rachel investigates a lead into who has been chasing Claire. Meanwhile, Claire and Sandra are attacked with a beast of a problem at home.

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Claire is at Sam's Comics with Rachel and Vic. Vic asks Claire if she would rather have regeneration or teleportation. Claire ignores him and Rachel asks if he ever leaves the store. Vic cracks a joke, saying that he tried it once and didn't like it. Claire tells him to change the window display and he salutes her before going off to do the job. Rachel then asks Claire why she is not interested in finding the people who are after her and Claire tells her that she just wants a normal life. Rachel tells her that she has a lead that she will follow and asks if Claire wants to come along. Claire says that she can't as she has to spend more time with her mother.

At the Bennet house, Claire sits on the couch while Sandra cleans. Claire wonders if she will ever get into college and have real friends and Sandra tells her that she has never seen Claire more popular. She wonders how Claire could be so lonely when she has new friends every week and Claire tells her mother that they are not friends, they are former Building 26targets. Sandra is shocked that Claire would do something so dangerous but is once again disappointed that she wasn't informed.

Claire goes on to tell Sandra about Mensen and wonders why bad things always happen to her. There is a knock on the door and Sandra opens it. Magdalena Muller is there and introduces herself as a friend of Claire's. Claire says hi and Mags tells her that she has been kidnapped and needs help. Sandra is confused by Claire understands, stating that Mags is a cloner. Mags confirms that and explains that "Wildman" kidnapped one of her clones in Florida and that she needs to get back to it. Claire asks why she came to her and Mags explains that Wildman thinks she has info on Sabine Hazel.

Elsewhere, Rachel arrives at a warehouse and teleports inside. She sees some people eating and approaches them. When the people realize that Rachel is not part of their group, they attack. Rachel tries kicking one of them but her leg passes right through him. She is then attacked by another person who transmutates his arm into metal. Just as Rachel is getting the upper hand, a little girl runs into the kitchen and begs them to stop. Rachel sees the little girl let out a jet of smoke and concludes that everyone in the warehouse has abilities. The woman and John explain that the faction is a place where people like them can come and have normal lives. Rachel isn't too sure about that and decides to leave.

On her way out she passes a broom closet and decides to check it out. Inside is a vast computer lab. Rachel hacks into their files and brings up information on some of the faction's hidden weapons including Markus Gaines, codename:Wildman. She finds a message saying that Wildman is after Claire and teleports away.

Rachel arrives at a motel where she finds Hiro and Ando. The men are happy to see her and Hiro asks how they can help. Rachel briefly explains what is going on and the men agree to help her. Rachel holds onto both Hiro and Ando and asks Ando for only a tiny bit of supercharging juice, as she does not want to end up in another country.

Back at the Bennet house, Mr. Muggles runs to the door. It is then kicked down by Wildman, who is pleased to hear that Claire knows about Sabine Hazel. Claire insists that she does not know anything and begs Wildman to leave. Mags pleads with him to let everyone go but Markus shakes his head. He clicks his fingers, summoning three dogs from down the street. He gathers more animals and threatens to kill all three of them if Claire does not tell him everything she knows about Sabine Hazel. Claire tries to tell him that she does not know anything but Markus unleashes the animals on the women. As Claire fends off a dog, she sees two Mags fighting side by side. She then goes to help Sandra, who is struggling with a feral Mr Muggles. Wildman temporarily stops the attack and asks Claire one more time. As he is talking, Rachel, Hiro and Ando teleport into the room. Rachel fights Wildman and gets him in a headlock, demanding to know why he is after Sabine. Before she can get any information out of him, Wildman gets a bird to come in and attack Rachel's face. He then flees.

When all the animals leave, Sandra, Claire, Hiro, Mags, Ando and Rachel discuss what has happened. Sandra is hesitant to trust Rachel but Claire convinces her that she is good. Rachel decides that it is time to leave and gets Hiro, Ando and Mags to tag along as they supercharge-teleport to Florida.

Chapter 604

Rachel and Claire try to reacquire Eric Thompson, Jr.'s trail with the help of an old ally and some new friends. But both Rachel and Claire are struggling with their own issues too. Can Eric Thompson, Jr., be stopped before the situation comes to a head?

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Claire speaks with Sandra about Rachel and everything that has been going on. Sandra does not want Claire involved but Claire says that she may as well spend her non-college days helping people. Sandra tells her to look at the house, which still has scratch marks all over it. Claire decides that she is right and tells her that she will tell Rachel that she can no longer help her.

Claire goes outside to Rachel, who is waiting by her car. As she gets closer, she can hear that Rachel is on the phone to her mother, Leona Mills. Rachel is angry and says that she came to Costa Verde because they tried to hurt Leona. Claire listens as Rachel tells her mother that she does not believe even the mighty "Ellen" can stop these guys. She hangs up and sees Claire. Claire tells her that she can't help anymore and Rachel becomes very angry. Before she can say or do anything, the girls both receive messages saying "ETJ IS GONE".

Rachel and Claire go to Sam's Comics, where Micah Sanders is waiting for them. He asks about what happened and Claire tells him not to worry. He notices that she is angry at something and Claire tells him that she cannot get into college. Micah says "oh" and then asks Rachel how she is. Rachel is still angry at something and tells him that she is "peachy". Micah goes on to say that Eric Thompson, Jr., the leader of the new faction, has disappeared. Claire and Rachel ask about his hideout, a place full of people with abilities. Micah tells them that they'll check it out, but they'll need help.

They go to the home of Katherine Murry, who welcomes Micah warmly. She asks what he needs and he explains the situation to her. Katherine nods and tells him that Unity is there to help him. She calls a girl, Kelli Wheaton, who arrives there instantly. Katherine gives her the job of gathering other members including Pacy McNeil, Therese Bryne, Theodore van den Burg and Miles Lecomte. With Unity gathered, Micah tells the team that Thompson and Wildman left the warehouse several hours ago but before them, a family of fire breathers also left. Rachel declares that she is going after the fire breathers and Claire decides to go with her.

At a park, Gail, Chris and Jennie Bowman are all eating lunch. Gail talks about how the others are probably all dead by now and that she is glad they managed to escape. Rachel and Claire arrive and watch as Chris tells his family that they had not other choice but to leave. Gail wonders if these new people will be any better than the old ones and Chris hopes that they will be, as he is tired of running and hiding. Suddenly, Jennie concentrates and creates "a tongue of fire", much to her parent's pride. After seeing that the family does not know anything, Claire tries to get Rachel to go with her. Rachel refuses to leave but Claire manages to get her to.

Back at the Comic Book Shop, Vic watches as Micah, Kathy, Kelli, Theodore, Therese, Pacy, Miles, Claire and Rachel all discuss the days events. Micah tells Claire and Rachel that Wildman and Thompson massacred everyone in the warehouse and that they could not find anything out. Rachel tells Micah to tell everyone what he thinks is going on and Micah explains that Thompson used to work for The Company. He says that he was partnered with a woman named Donna Dunlap, who was killed because of Julien Dumont. He says that Sabine fell pregnant to one of Julien's clones and that the Company believed her baby would have a similar power but with a new trick. Claire asks what it is and Micah explains that every clone would have its own unique power.

Claire and Rachel return home and Sandra and Lyle come running out. Sandra tells Claire that she got into college and Claire begins to celebrate. Rachel watches from far away and sends a message to Micah, saying that Claire just found out. Micah tells Rachel not to tell Claire that he got her into college and Rachel is pulled away by Claire, who wants her to celebrate with the family.

Trivia

Although everything from Chapters 601 - 605 are contained in Chapter 606, there are an extra few pages at the end of Chapter 606 in which Rachel watches a number of evolved humans at the carnival, including Sabine Hazel, Chris, Gail and Jennie Bowman.

See Also

For a summary of the Faction Zero series of iStories as a whole, see Faction Zero.